"Free agent forward Shane Battier has narrowed his list of prospective teams from more than the original dozen or so to a handful of teams, including his current team, the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami, Indiana and Toronto, according to a league source"

" The Raptors see Battier as a strong veteran presence for their young core, though they have been less willing than other teams to offer Battier a four-year deal. In addition, one of Toronto’s new assistant coaches, Johnny Davis, was on the Grizzlies’ bench last season, when Battier was re-acquired by the team that drafted him in 2001 from the Rockets."

js12

12-04-2011 10:15 PM

Heat are going hard for Battier though.

Quote:

Once NBA teams can speak with free agents beginning Monday, Miami Heat president Pat Riley has his franchise in strong position to sell Shane Battier(notes) on signing to play with LeBron James(notes) and Dwyane Wade(notes), league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Battier has been a primary target in free agency for the Heat, and sources say the pitch of Riley, coach Erik Spoelstra and key Heat players could ultimately confirm Battier’s strong feelings about chasing a championship in Miami.

Riley and Spoelstra see Battier as a strong defender with an ability to hit the open shots that’ll come his way playing with James, Wade and Chris Bosh(notes). Battier has been a proven playoff performer, and possesses the professionalism and maturity to navigate within the harsh glare of the Heat’s existence.

Yes, the full MLE. The heat are are allowed to use the full MLE because they would be less than 4 million over the luxury tax threshold by using the MLE. However, I would expect them to make an offer closer to the mini-MLE or even the vet's minimum because the Heat still need a center...

Nites

12-04-2011 11:34 PM

I see Battier joining a team thats going to make a run for the championship.

10

12-04-2011 11:44 PM

I would be ecstatic.

This is the guy of guy we need. He would be an amazing mentor to nearly everyone on our team.

Derp

12-05-2011 03:38 AM

I'd love to see him in Toronto.

Defensive SF vet with great locker room presence.

Shifty.py

12-05-2011 04:50 AM

Like many others have said, we needed him before.
Right now he is too old and wants too much money

myklue

12-05-2011 12:20 PM

Quote:

The Raptors see Battier as a strong veteran presence for their young core, though they have been less willing than other teams to offer Battier a four-year deal.

i don't think shane would go to miami, just have this gut feeling...

10

12-05-2011 03:10 PM

They'd have to give him most if not all the MLE to get him.

He deserves more than 5 million a year if you ask me. You can't put a price on what he brings to the table.

Superjudge

12-05-2011 06:16 PM

He'll be in Miami.

Admiral

12-05-2011 06:53 PM

I'd like him here as the SF we need because of his ability to defend and shoot the 3, both of which were really need and he fits the position too. But I also think we need someone that's on a higher level than him if we can get better.

But he's going to Miami like everyone will be given the chance and they'll win the championship. Lockout solved nothing in terms of "super" teams.

jeffb

12-08-2011 08:35 AM

Surprising. Lol

Quote:

@RicBucher Ric Bucher
Hearing that Shane Battier is bound for the Miami Heat. Not strong enough to write a news story but no league talk of him going elsewhere.

DanH

12-08-2011 08:51 AM

If Bosh can hold his own at C, that team is even stacked compared to last year. If they don't waive Miller (and they don't have to to use the MLE)...

Wade
Miller/Battier
LeBron
Haslem
Bosh

Battier/Miller backing up the 2, 3, 4 spots. Anthony backing up the C spot. Rookie PG backing up that spot, probably playing with LeBron or Wade as the main ball handler.

All without exceeding the tax apron. Imagine next year...

jeffb

12-08-2011 08:58 AM

Isn't Miller out for the next 6 weeks?

DanH

12-08-2011 09:08 AM

Sure. But it's not like January matters to the Heat.

TORaptor4Ever

12-08-2011 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanH
(Post 584544)

If Bosh can hold his own at C, that team is even stacked compared to last year. If they don't waive Miller (and they don't have to to use the MLE)...

Wade
Miller/Battier
LeBron
Haslem
Bosh

Battier/Miller backing up the 2, 3, 4 spots. Anthony backing up the C spot. Rookie PG backing up that spot, probably playing with LeBron or Wade as the main ball handler.

All without exceeding the tax apron. Imagine next year...

Agreed. That'd be pretty nasty. The D gets even better and they get another strong spot-up 3P shooter (something that they needed).

No wonder the Lakers are desperate to get Paul and D12 lol.

If that happens the Celts may as well blow it up because they're not beating MIA in a 7-game series. No way.

Chiggmo

12-08-2011 11:10 AM

Aren't they still going after Sammy D? or no?

DanH

12-08-2011 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiggmo
(Post 584615)

Aren't they still going after Sammy D? or no?

Only if he signs for a huge pay-cut (minimum or close to it, depending on the details Battier's deal) or they somehow figure a way to S+T for him with Sacramento, which seems unlikely in the extreme.